Disney has shared has revealed an update on the progress to expand Avengers Campus at DCA, which is doubling in size with the addition of two new rides, Stark Flight Lab and Avengers Infinity Defense. Construction is now vertical on these attractions being built backstage, with the massive Marvel expansion reaching a major milestone!
Ground was broken on this expansion towards the beginning of last year, and we’ve been closely watching the project’s construction progress over the last year. First from the former Fun Wheel, and now from the ground (or more accurately, the elevated platform) in Avengers Campus as the show building and canopy continue growing in size.
Construction has kicked into higher gear, as the footprint of the building continues to expand. A tall crane is on site and visible from around Disney California Adventure, Disneyland Esplanade, and backstage along Harbor Boulevard. The latest news is that Disneyland President Thomas Mazloum has shared that the project has hit a milestone!
Mazloum posted photos on Instagram of Cast Members standing in the future home of the new attractions, backstage in a prep site behind Radiator Springs Racers for a ceremonial steel beam signing. As covered last week in Who Will Replace Josh D’Amaro as Head of Disney Parks?, we view Mazloum as one of the top contenders to ascend to the Experiences Chair position.
Here’s Mazloum’s caption on the photos:
Excited to join our @disneyland Cast Members backstage to sign a steel beam that soon will become part of the expanded Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure Park.
Cast Members left their mark on a project that will double the size of the land and bring more adventures to life. But what stood out most was the excitement and pride everyone brought to something that represents our future.
I can’t wait for everyone to experience what’s ahead! #DisneyCastLife
Here are photos shared by Mazloum:
This is a longstanding Cast Member tradition, and a fun way for frontline workers to leave a lasting mark on the new Avengers Campus expansion. We’re big fans of this and anything that makes Cast Members feel involved and appreciated. We all benefit from Disney treating Cast Members better.
As you might recall, we just saw another steel beam signing happen less than a month ago over at Walt Disney World, where Cast Members got the opportunity to sign a steel beam for the Encanto attraction in Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom. By all appearances, the two projects are on similar timelines.
Speaking of construction, here’s a fresh look at progress on the Avengers Campus expansion:
Although you wouldn’t know it since we seldom share updates (how much can be said about the status of Redwood Creek, Toontown, or Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live?), we’re in the parks about once per week (even more recently!) and have been watching this project grow in size. The Avengers Campus Phase 2 project is moving fast.
Which brings us to the obvious question…
When Will Avengers Campus Expansion Open?
Of the two attractions, Avengers Infinity Defense is the much more complex and meaty attraction. It’s an unequivocal E-Ticket, whereas Stark Flight Lab is clearly a secondary and more basic attraction. It’s filler to round out the ride roster, and we don’t mean that in a disparaging way.
In the past, we’ve pointed out that Stark Flight Lab could open as soon as Late 2026 if Disneyland so desires. That is, assuming it can be built and open in a such a way that is conducive to construction continuing on Avengers Infinity Defense.
In watching construction closely, I’m now more skeptical that this is even possible. The two attractions seem very integrated, and even if it were possible to open Stark Flight Lab sooner (and I doubt it is), doing so could stifle the project site and slow down work on the E-Ticket. There’s also the question of whether Disney actually wants to open the two attractions separately. And I also think the answer to that is no.
We suspect the doubling of Avengers Campus will open all at once between Late 2027 and Spring 2028.
Right now, the pace of the project is about on par with Tropical Americas at Animal Kingdom, which Disney has already given a 2027 timeline. As we’ve written repeatedly in recent posts, our expectation is that Tropical Americas opens on October 1, 2027 at the earliest, with around December 4, 2027 being more likely.
Avengers Campus expansion and Tropical Americas started around the same time, and although the Marvel attractions went vertical first, Encanto wasn’t far behind. Maybe this will be like Pandora and Mission Breakout, which debuted on the same day!
Of course, this doesn’t account for differences between the two projects in scope, scale, or construction challenges (swamps vs. urban California). Setting aside all of that, which is admittedly a ton to set aside, it’s still our belief that Avengers Campus Phase 2 and Tropical Americas are fairly comparable.
Accordingly, I’m also going to go with a Late 2027 opening for this. Disneyland likes the sweet spot between Halloween and Thanksgiving, right around the time Christmas season starts. That would put the opening date for Avengers Campus Phase 2 around November 12, 2027.
Even so, it’s going to be a challenge to debut the new area by late 2027 given the current pace of work. Either way, late 2027 to mid-2028 is probably the most realistic window for Avengers Campus Phase 2. But if Tropical Americas can debut before the end of 2027, so too can this.
No matter when the Avengers Campus expansion debuts, these are the next new attractions to opening as part of Disneyland’s upcoming development cycle. With ground clearing now underway for Coco, my best guess is that’s the 2028 opening; I would expect that to debut less than a full year after Marvel expansion.
If you’re unfamiliar with Stark Flight Lab or Avengers Infinity Defense, here’s more info…
In Stark Flight Lab, guests will sit in “gyro-kinetic pods” and roll along a track before stopping in front of a giant robot arm. This robot arm will hoist you into the air where you’ll make several high-speed maneuvers inspired by Iron Man and some other Avengers.
A familiar face will join you at the Stark Flight Lab, as Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as Tony Stark for the attractions in the land. Stark Flight Lab seems sweet and simple, and should be a fun supporting player; DCA could use more of that to boost the ride roster.
It reminds me a lot of Sum of All Thrills at EPCOT, but as an open air attraction. That extinct attractions in the former Innoventions used KUKA Arm technology. Sum of All Thrills was pretty cool, and ahead of its time. It was also woefully inefficient, with atrocious hourly throughput. Turning this into an actual ‘ride’ with a track and multiple robotic arm stations should address that issue.
You can read more about this attraction in our Stark Flight Lab: Everything We Know So Far post.
Avengers Infinity Defense will occur in a version of the Multiverse where Thanos won. When joining battle with the Avengers, you never know what foes you’ll face from anywhere and everywhen. Avengers Infinity Defense is a family-friendly attraction giving guests the opportunity to team up with the Avengers and their allies from across the Multiverse to battle against enemies, led by King Thanos.
The conceit of Avengers Infinity Defense is that technology that allowing the Marvel heroes to jump between worlds has gone missing, and King Thanos is using it to wreak havoc everywhere. Recruits will travel to iconic locations like Asgard, Wakanda, and New York City alongside the likes of the super heroes.
Based on what Imagineering has shown so far of Avengers Infinity Defense, it’ll be a screen-centric attraction that also moves through physical sets with show scenes and built environments. When it comes to domestic attractions, the best comparison is probably (ironically) the Spider-Man and Harry Potter attractions at Universal.
The ride vehicle for Avengers Infinity Defense was on display at the last D23 Expo, and it’s the same as the one utilized by Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure. You can read our review, which describes that as Avatar Flight of Passage meets Universal’s Spider-Man, for somewhat of a “sneak peek” at what to expect from this Marvel E-Ticket. This is the best comparison of all, as it’s our strong suspicion that Avengers Infinity Defense will be a lot like that, except in the Marvel Multiverse instead of Never Land.
I love Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure. Unfortunately, it makes Sarah nauseated. I would expect the ride profiles to be fairly similar, with Avengers Infinity Defense being a bit more intense while still fitting the family-friendly label. (I don’t know how you do a completely family-friendly Marvel ride with a battle against King Thanos, but the Peter Pan ride does the same with Captain Hook–so who knows.)
The bottom line is that Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure is excellent–a long and meaty E-Ticket that leaves guests (well, except those who get sick on it) feeling satisfied. I will be really happy if Avengers Infinity Defense is a clone of that ride system, profile, and track layout, and just swaps out Peter Pan and pals for Marvel.
Read more in Avengers Infinity Defense: Everything We Know So Far.
Ultimately, we’re looking forward to Avengers Campus expansion, even though it is (admittedly) not one of my favorite lands at DCA. I’m very bullish on Avengers Infinity Defense, which will hopefully be a meaty E-Ticket.
I’ve seen a lot of disappointment from Disneyland diehards about what Avengers Infinity Defense isn’t, but it being the equivalent of Peter Pan’s Never Land Adventure is a great thing. And as sick as I am of no-stakes multiverse nonsense in the Marvel films, I think that idea actually lends itself to a theme park attraction.
It’s an excellent way of playing the ‘greatest hits’ of the voluminous Marvel Cinematic Universe, and offering a little something to everyone since it’s not possible to do rides for every single super hero or villain. I’m not the biggest MCU fan anymore, but I’m really looking forward to Avengers Infinity Defense. Don’t make the mistake of underestimating it–like so many of us did with Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout!
Obviously, Avengers Infinity Defense is the more exciting addition, but Stark Flight Lab is like icing on the cake since it was not previously part of the plans. I’ll certainly take another attraction in Avengers Campus, even if it is a fairly basic. Filler isn’t bad–DCA needs more filler (as does pretty much every park that isn’t Disneyland).
This reminds us of the secondary attractions in Cars Land, which are pretty much perfect from a ‘payoff’ perspective and really round out the land. Avengers Campus will never be as good as Cars Land, but this should go a long way in improving it!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What is your reaction to Stark Flight Lab and Avengers Infinity Defense construction going vertical at Disney California Adventure? Have you seen progress in person? Optimistic that Avengers Campus Phase 2 opens on November 12, 2027? Do you agree or disagree with our assessments? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!